Otoscope illumination assembly



Aug- 21, 1962 J. 5. KRUGLICK 3,050,049

O'I'OSCOPE ILLUMINATION ASSEMBLY Filed Nov. 10, 1958 HVVEN TOR: John S. Krug/ic/r 8% A TTORNEY United States Patent Ofiiice 3,050,049 7 Patented Aug. 21,1962

3,050,049 OTQSCGlE ILLUMENATIQN ASSEMBLY John Krugiiclr, 1313 N. 2nd St, Phoenix, Ariz. Filed Nov. 19, E53, Ser. No. 773,077 Claims. ((11. l2823) This invention relates to an improved medical otoscope and more particularly to a modified arrangement thereof which considerably enhances the utility of the instrument.

An important objection to the present otoscopes is the limitation in the light available at any given time. Accordingly it is necessary to remove and replace the fitting at the front of the otoscope when a larger or smaller area is to be examined. This constant changing of the fittings is both time consuming and ofconsiderable inconvenience. The present invention provides a novel and improved arrangement whereby the desired light for examining small and larger areas is readily available Without the necessity of constantly removing and replacing the front fittings of the instrument.

An important advantage of the present invention is that this improvement is obtained while still retaining the benefits of the normal use of the otoscope. However, only the fitting for examination of a small area will normally be retained permanently on the front of the otoscope. The lighting provided by the novel arrangement of the present invention will be used for examination of larger areas. Still another important advantage of the present invention is that the novel arrangement is provided as one integral part which is inserted into the case of a conventional otoscope. Accordingly the benefits of the present invention are obtained with minimum cost.

In one embodiment the present invention relates to an assembly for inserting into the case of an otoscope, said assembly comprising, in combination, a lamp at the back thereof, a source of electricity, conductor means connecting both said lamp and the lamp contact of said otoscope with a terminal of said source of electricity, conductor means connecting said lamp with an opposite terminal of said source of electricity, and a svw'tch connected to said last mentioned conductor means, whereby the electrical circuit is completed in response to movement of said switch.

The invention is further explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIGURES 1 and 2 are side views of two specific embodiments of the assembly for inserting into the case of a conventional otoscope. In the interest of simplicity, details of the otoscope lamp and viewing arrangement at the front of the otoscope have been omitted from the drawings. These are conventional and form no part of the present invention separate and apart from the combination thereof with the improved modification as herein described in detail.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, numeral 1 illustrates a conventional otoscope case. The back or retaining cap of the otoscope is removed and discarded. FIGURE 1 of thedrawings illustrates two standard flashlight batteries 2, which batteries'normally are provided with a conventional otoscope. It is understood that any other suitable number of batteries may be employed as, for example, four smaller size batteries, which may be connected in any suitable series and/or parallel arrangement, or that any other suitable source of electricity may be provided. Generally, however, two standard size flashlight batteries are employed. Batteries 2 are removed from the otoscope case and are placed Within the novel assembly of the present invention, and the entire assembly then is inserted into the otoscope case. The new assembly is furnished as an integral unit and is readily inserted into position.

The assembly is held in position by retaining means 3 which, in the case here illustrated, is firmly attached to case 1 by means of one or more nylon screws 4 or in any other suitable manner. In another embodiment, retainer 3 may be attached to case 1 by a press fit and, in still another embodiment, by a short screw thread engaging slots in the case. Retaining means 3 preferably is made of aluminum, as are many other parts of the assembly, in order not to increase the weight of the complete otoscope excessively. It is understood that any other suitable light metal may be used. Lamp 5 is type #222 or the like and will provide a circle of light about2" in diameter at a distance of about 6". Lamp guard 6, in the case here illustrated, is threaded in place and can be removed easily, without tools, for replacing the lamp when necessary.

Lamp 5 is inserted into lamp mount 7, which is threaded to accept the screw type base of type #222 lamp. As

here illustrated, lamp mount 7 is made of suitable plastic and is held in place with an epoxy resin plastic cement 8 to prevent turning when the lamp is inserted. The lamp is screwed into the plastic mount so that its base makes firm contact with the exposed surface of the insulated conductor to be hereinafter described. It is understood that any other suitable means of mounting the lamp may be employed as, for example, a standard flashlight bulb socket as illustrated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings. Switch 9 ismade of metal and is fitted with contact spring 10 which, in turn, contacts the case of lamp 5 when switch 9- is depressed. This assures'good contact by way of the positive pressure applied to the switch. Return spring 11 holds switch 9 in the Oil position at other times. When a steady light 'is' desired, switch 9 is depressed and then forced to the rear direction, thus engaging detent 12 into contact with pin 13, which holds the switch in the On position. The switch is released by pushing it toward the front of the otoscope, which disengages detent 12 from retainer pin 13, and the switch is returned to the Oil position by means of spring 11.

Spring battery contact 14 is firmly attached to battery retainer 3 by screw 15 or in any other suitable manner. Contact 14 makes contact with the rear terminal of the rear battery. Dimple 16 is provided to prevent the con tact from moving while assembling. In place of the battery contact as illustrated, it is understood that any other suitable contacting means may be employed as, for example, a spiral spring as illustrated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings.

In the case here illustrated, insulated conductor 17 is soldered to spring contact 18 with rosin core solder or in any other suitable manner. Contact 18, in turn, is attached to lamp contact 19, which is a standard part of a conventional otoscope. Conductor 17 comprises a thin beryllium copper strip, suitably isolated electrically from the batteries'by being covered with plastic electrical tape,

' or any other suitable insulation or conductor may be employed as, for example, insulated'wire as illustrated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings. Conductor 17 may rest between the batteries. and the case or,'if desired, may be attached to the case or otherwise in any suitable manner The only exposed surfaces of insulated conductor 17 are (1) the point of contact with lamp 5 as indicated at 20' and (2) the point at the other end of the assembly which contacts both the inner contact of the forward battery as indicated at 21 and the standard lamp contact of the otoscope as indicated at 22. serves to provide a continuous electrical path ,to the otoscope lamp as occurs in the conventional otoscope.

The current required to illuminate lamp 5 travels by way of insulated conductor 17 to the base connection of lamp 5 as indicated at 20, then through the lamp filament to the case connection of the lamp. The circuit is completed back to the case side of the rear battery when switch button 9 is depressed. The final link is battery contact 14. This applies the full voltage of the two batteries, connected in series, to lamp 5.

FIGURE 2 of the drawings illustrates another specific V illustrated at 8". The insulation is held in place by screw 25 or in any other suitable manner. Lamp guard 6' is attached by a press fit or threaded into place or in any other suitable manner. Switch 9, metal contact spring 10, return spring 11, detent 12 and pin 13' are the same as hereinbefore described. In the case here illustrated, pin 13 is retained in place by screw 26 or in any other suitable manner. 7

As illustrated in FIGURE 2, 14' comprises a spiral spring contact which makes contact with the rear terminal of the rear battery and, in turn, with retaining member 3. Spring 14 is held in position in any suitable manner as, for example, by being soldered or otherwise attached to retaining member 3 or by resting tightly against the rear end of case 1.

FIGURE 2 illustrates insulated wire 17' which is sol dered or otherwise attached to lamp contact 19' which, in turn, is connected through link 27, having nut 28, to the front portion of the otoscope. Wire 17 may rest between the batteries and the case or, if desired, may be attached to the case or otherwise in any suitable manner. The only exposed surfaces of the insulated wire 17 are (1) the point of contact with pin 29 as indicated at 20 which, in turn, contacts lamp and (2) the point at the other end of the assembly which contacts the standard lamp contact of the otoscope as indicated at 22'; This serves to provide a continuous electrical path to the otoscope lamp as occurs in the conventional otoscope.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 2, the current required to illuminate lamp 5 travels by way of insulated Wire 17' to pin 29 as illustrated at 20 and then to the base connection of lamp 5, then through the lamp filament to the case connection of the lamp. The circuit is completed back to the case side of the rear battery when switch button 9 is depressed. The final link is spring contact 14'. Tlu's applies the full voltage of the two batteries, connected in series, to lamp 5.

As hereinbefore set forth, the novel assembly of the present invention provides a'readily available light for medical examination of larger areas without the time consuming and inconvenient removing and replacing of the front fittings of the otoscope. The type #222 lamp utilized in the tail light has a lens section molded in the end of the envelope to provide some focusing of the rays of light emitted. A circle of light about 2" in diameter is produced at a distance of about 6". It is understood that any other suitable lamp may be used when so desired.

I claim as my invention: I

1. An illumination assembly for an otoscopecomprising a case, an electric battery contained in said case, a lamp contact at one end of said case, a second lamp at the end of said case opposite said first mentioned lamp contact, conductor means within said case connecting said second lamp 'with both said first mentioned lamp contact and .with a terminal of a battery adjacent said first mentioned lamp contact, a second conductor means within said case connecting said second lamp with another terminal of a battery, retaining means holding said second lamp firmly attached to said case, and exteriorly accessible switching means mounted within said retaining means and adapted to turn said second lamp on and off in response to movement of said switching means.

iii

2. An illumination assembly for an otoscope comprising a case, a pair of electric batteries connected in series contained in said case, a lamp contact at one end of said case, a second lamp at the end of said case opposite said first mentioned lamp contact, conductor means within said case connecting said second lamp with both said first mentioned lamp contact and with the positive terminal of the battery adjacent said first mentioned lamp contact, a second conductor means within said case connecting said second lamp with the negative terminal of the battery adjacent said second lamp, retaining means holding said second lamp firmly attached to said case, and exteriorly accessible switching means mounted within said retaining means and adapted to turn said second lamp on and off in response to movement of said switching means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that said first mentioned conductor means is a beryllium copper conductor insulated with plastic tape and exposed only at points of contact with thefirst mentioned lamp contact and with said positive terminal of the battery at one end of said case and with said second lamp at the opposite end of said case. p 4. The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that said first mentioned conductor means is an insulated wire exposed only at points of contact with said first mentioned lamp contact at one end of said case and with said second lamp at the opposite end of said case.

5. An illumination assembly for an otoscope comprising a case, two standard flashlight batteries connected in series contained in said case, a lamp contact at one end of said base, a second lamp threaded into a plastic socket at the end of the case opposite said first mentioned lamp contact, an insulated beryllium copper conductor soldered near one end thereof to said first mentioned lamp contact and at the same end thereof contacting the positive terminal of the forward battery adjacent said first mentioned lamp contact, the other end of said conductor contacting the base connection of said second lam retaining means fitted over said case and holding said second lamp firmly attached to said case, a spring contact mounted within said case between said second lamp and the negative terminal of the rearward battery, said spring contact connecting said negative terminal with said retaining means, a switch in said retaining means adapted, in response to downward movement thereof, to contact the case connection of said second lamp and to thereby complete the electrical circuit through said retaining means and said otoscope case, and a lamp guard attached to the outside of said retaining means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

